News Today

Is there an offset plan for defence spending?
THE letter, 'Hefty spending on defence justified' (ST, Jan 30), by Mr Goh Khee Kuan says, and I agree, that a decisive deterrence is critical. He concedes that the defence expenditure is large and at the expense of many other areas,... [Read more]

Messages from Official Assignee's office inconsistent: SDP chief
CHEE Soon Juan yesterday blamed the inconsistent instructions he received from the Official Assignee's (OA) office for causing him to believe he could go abroad while still a bankrupt.Its staff did not 'categorically reject' his travel application, he told a district... [Read more]

Put Asia's foreign reserves to better use: ADB
TOKYO - ASIA'S huge foreign reserves can and should be used more productively for the region's infrastructure development, a senior official of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said yesterday. A portion of the region's roughly US$3 trillion (S$4.6 trillion) in reserves... [Read more]

Malaysia trade crosses RM1 trillion mark
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S trade surpassed the RM1 trillion (S$439 billion) mark for the first time, prompting Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to call it an 'inspiring achievement'. Datuk Seri Abdullah, who also holds the finance portfolio, said on Thursday that trade... [Read more]

Ferguson is sure that Rooney will score in Champions League soon
WAYNE Rooney will end his Champions League scoring drought against Lille - according to manager Alex Ferguson.The England striker had hit a hat-trick past Turkish side Fenerbahce on his United and Champions League debut in September 2004.Since then, he has not... [Read more]

News? Simi lancheow! Go Fuck yourself!
India to review policy on SEZ projectsNEW DELHI - INDIA is reviewing its policy on special economic zones as opposition to them grows.A panel of senior ministers will examine all new plans for the zones, which are intended to attract billions... [Read more]

Wait to see kidney doc at TTSH could take 7 months
HOSPITALS have been asked to take steps to cut long waiting times for patients with non-urgent kidney problems. According to figures released yesterday by the Ministry of Health (MOH) ,it takes 205 days - almost seven months - for half the... [Read more]

Appreciation of the arts sorely missing
I read with interest the article 'Crazy Horse show to shut down' (ST, Jan 26).The closure of Crazy Horse brings to mind yet another distinctive performing arts company. In 2000, Cirque du Soleil set up its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore. However,... [Read more]

Japan's new HIV cases hit record high
TOKYO - JAPAN'S government-backed Aids agency yesterday called for better awareness about the disease after new HIV infections hit a record high, even though the number remains low by global standards.A total of 914 people tested positive for HIV last year,... [Read more]

FairPrice supermarkets to provide in-store banking
SHOPPERS at NTUC FairPrice supermarkets will soon be able to add some surprising items to their shopping baskets. They will be able to open a savings account and apply for credit and debit cards as they shop for groceries. Later, they... [Read more]

Other uses for special education account
I APPLAUD the Government in its generosity towards brightening the hopes of students and those who want to engage in adult learning.A case in point is the Post Secondary Education Account, which is designed for students from the age of seven... [Read more]